Momina Mustehsan’s brother just dropped a song and we are confused

Haider Mustehsan goes by the name ‘HDR’

KARACHI: Shaadi season is finally coming to an end. The marathon of seeing the same relatives again and again will soon be over and so shall the reverb of Atif Aslam’s Tere Sang Yara.  God that song stays with you as much as you’d want to escape.

With the shaadi season also arrives that lot of cousins from Canada, UK and the US who are here to connect with their roots and to upset their stomach.

The interesting mix of their Punjabi and English makes it hard to understand what they are up to – that is obviously excusable keeping their upbringing in mind but is still funny.

PHOTO: HAIDER MUSTEHSAN/INSTAGRAM

No less hilarious and off-putting is Haider Mustehsan’s brand new song called Kahani. It actually has all the ingredients of a song that the expat cousin would sing if he is asked to just go with the flow and be appreciated regardless for the effort.

The song has every word you’d expect to hear after reading the description; Baby, lonely, Jaani, Raja, Raani and the familiar list goes on and on. Mind you, we have nothing against these words for they have been the staple crops for immensely popular yet hated (by a certain segment of society) artists such as Bilal Saeed.

PHOTO: HAIDER MUSTEHSAN/INSTAGRAM

HDR (As Haider is mentioned on Patari) falls under the same category of artists, the only problem is that neither his Punjabi nor Urdu singing tone is earthy enough to be accepted by desis and music,  not nuanced enough to stand out.

It’s an attempt at desi pop and R&B that has been done in a much better way before. That however doesn’t take away the risk HDR has taken at such an early phase in his career.

His vocals were used in a much better fashion in Na-Toon; a song produced by Shamoon Ismail also featuring Moroo on the track. Perhaps all he needs is a good producer and a realisation as to which side of the map does he actually want to belong.

PHOTO: HAIDER MUSTEHSAN/INSTAGRAM

The parallels with Momina Mustehsan’s career are bound to take place. A prodigy of Salman Ahmed, it took Momina half a decade or so to be the celebrated artist who is eagerly picked by Coke Studio and also approached to sing Qaseeda Burda Shareef.  HDR is no way near to where Momina was when she started out with catchy numbers like Pee Jaaoon.

If HDR really wants to be taken more seriously than the Canadian cousin at the Pakistani wedding than he really needs to up his game.

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